38, female, weight loss - What type of tummy tuck do I need? (Photos)

Question

Hi! Im a 38 yo female, non smoker. My stomach has been my biggest insecurity and I’ve lost quite a bit of weight over the last 2 years. I’m curious to know what type of tummy tuck I would be able to get. I have not had children so I don think I need muscle repair, but please let I am wrong to assume that.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Cool205314,

it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. If you are considering surgery, I would suggest you consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination, you will get more information and recommendations.

Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Ira H. Rex III, MD · Answer

Impossible to give you any helpful information about how you might want to proceed.  Better photographs would allow me to perhaps give you a little direction in understanding the type of surgery that may be best for you.

Sameer Karkhanis, MS, DNB · Answer

Hello. You are an ideal candidate for a tummy tuck or lipo-abdominoplasty surgery. Liposuction takes care of excess fat and tummy tuck takes care of excess skin. The Standard tummy tuck will definitely help in achieving the better waist line. Need not to worry about tummy tuck scars, they are well hidden in the bikini line. For any further queries you can reach out to us.
Thank you.

Regards,
Dr. Sameer Karkhanis,
Centre for Cosmetic Surgery, Mumbai, India.
+919833571333

Leila Kasrai, MD, FRCSC · Answer

Congratulations on your weight loss! It appears that you have loose skin above and below your belly button. This would make a full tummy tuck suitable for you. An inperson assessment can confirm whether abdominal muscle repair is needed.

Paul M. Parker, MD, FACS · Answer

Based on your brief history and the photographs you supplied, you appear to be a good candidate for a combination of liposuction of your abdomen and a tummy tuck, often referred to as a lipoabdominoplasty. You are correct, that most often, patients who have not had children do not need muscle tightening though there are exceptions. Find a board certified plastic surgeon near you who performs a lot of tummy tucks to obtain a consultation and discuss in more detail.

Kadir Berat Oyur, MD · Answer

Based on your photos, you appear to have excess skin and soft tissue laxity in the lower abdomen following weight loss, making you a good candidate for abdominoplasty. A full tummy tuck with muscle repair may provide the best contouring result, although the need for muscle repair can only be confirmed during a physical examination.

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

If you were once very heavy and have lost weight then it is possible that the weight of the intraabdominal fat has stretched your muscle and the support layer called fascia. It may be that the muscle has no recoiled back to normal after the weight loss. You will need to be physically examined the see if you need the fascia layer repaired or not. You do have excess skin and fat and would benefit from a tummy tuck. If you had the fascia layer repaired and then had pregnancies it would be damaged and you would need a repeat tummy tuck with fascia repair.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Frank Agullo, MD · Answer

Looking at your photos, it appears to be more loose skin than just fat. You have a loose area extending above your bellybutton and a hanging lower portion, which will not resolve with a mini tuck. You need a full tummy tuck, which leaves a low scar from hip to hip and repositions your bellybutton.

I want to address the muscle question, since you have not had children. Just like the weight stretched your skin, the fascia down the midline also stretches with large weight loss, and a brief crunch easily shows me that separation in a consultation. Many weight-loss patients who have never been pregnant still find midline plication beneficial.

Consider your flanks and any skin hanging over your back too. Adding liposuction along with the tuck gives a better result, because the abdomen and the sides then contour smoothly instead of a flat front that looks separate from the rest of your waist. Large horizontal looseness can point to an extended or fleur-de-lis tuck, but your excess looks mostly vertical in these photos. The only sure way to tell is in person.

#StayBeautiful,

@RealDrWorldWide

Shlomo Widder, MD · Answer

Dear Cool,
   Thanks for posting your abdominal pictures. From observing your pictures you appear to have skin and muscle laxity from the chest bone to the pubic bone. Usually your condition is associated with pregnancy , however in my 39 years of practice I have seen lots of patients with similar condition to yours either from weight gain and loss , or just  from anatomy. My recommendation to you is to have a full tummy tuck surgery in order to get optimal result which includes flat stomach, improved body posture, narrower waists and most likely noticeable weight loss due to the abdominal muscles tightening which reduces the amount of food that you can eat and your appetite.
   Always consult with experienced board certified plastic surgeons who operate in accredited surgery center for your safety. Most importantly. check the before and after pictures in the photo gallery to make sure that they are numerous, consistent and attractive with the features described above.
              Best of luck,
                            Dr Widder
                widderplasticsurgery.com

Harry T. Haramis, MD, FACS · Answer

If you are planning on having children soon, we usually recommend not performing a full tummy tuck with skin removal and muscle repair now. Pregnancy after will likely change results negatively.

Less invasive options include skin removal/ tummy tuck without muscle repair and possibly Vaser ultrasound liposuction to remove stubborn fat and tighten skin to a degree without big scars.

An exam and consultation with a plastic surgeon who performs these procedures is recommended to confirm you are a candidate as well as discuss your options and expectations.

38, female, weight loss - What type of tummy tuck do I need? (Photos)

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